To the Editor: Polak et al. (July 21 issue)(1) state that the mean intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery "is believed to be better suited for cardiovascular risk assessment" than the intima-media thickness of the internal carotid artery. To be clear, the American Society of Echocardiography consensus statement that they cited(2) specified that carotid-artery ultrasonography for cardiovascular disease risk prediction should be based on a thorough scan of the carotid arteries to detect the presence of plaques, followed by measurement of the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery. The statement stipulated that measuring the intima-media thickness of the . . .